The Conspiracy Theorist’s Form of Blind Justice

It doesn’t surprise me that a lot people were disappointed by the acquittal of George Zimmerman – the Martin family in particular. They believed, as most parents would in the same situation, that the man who shot their 17 year-old child deserved to be held accountable in some meaningful way for the taking of their son’s life.

I get that.

But expressing disappointment and sorrow is one thing. Claiming that justice wasn’t served (as many have done over the past week) is another. Anyone who followed the trial with even an inkling of objectivity understands that there just weren’t any grounds for convicting George Zimmerman of a crime. He wasn’t found innocent due to a technicality. He wasn’t found innocent because of a racist jury or an incompetent prosecution. He was found innocent because all available evidence of what happened on the night Trayvon Martin was killed pointed to a classic case of self-defense.

What I’ve found shocking is that for far too may people, that just doesn’t seem to matter. The mere, unsubstantiated presumption that George Zimmerman is a racist has been grounds for disregarding practically everything that actually happened that tragic night. There was a real hope for Zimmerman to be convicted and sent off to prison, and it wasn’t because of anything that was presented during the case. It was because of the prejudicial thoughts that might have been running through Zimmerman’s mind when he first spotted Trayvon Martin walking through his neighborhood.

So when I listen to people call Florida an “apartheid state”, propose an economic boycott, and remark that it’s open season for killing black teenagers there, it seems to me that “justice” is the very last thing on their minds.

Clinging to a false conclusion, and doing so by willfully ignoring all evidence and facts that negate that conclusion more resembles a conspiracy theory than it does an earnest quest for justice. Like a conspiracy theory, the passion behind it isn’t fueled so much by the facts of the event, but rather by the general mistrust of a powerful establishment – in this case, what is perceived as the white establishment in this country. And when that mistrust is so deeply rooted, there’s always an eagerness by certain individuals to attribute heinous acts to it, without factoring fairness or accuracy into the equation.

In this case, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson (among others) are those individuals. When you think about it, they aren’t so different than Alex Jones and Jesse Ventura: A pair of opportunistic nuts whose public relevance relies on the fanning of conspiratorial flames. Unfortunately, Sharpton and Jackson have more influence.

I would love for someone to try and make the case to me that associating Trayvon Martin’s name with self-serving charlatans somehow pays respect to the boy’s memory. Because as far as I can tell, all it’s done is make the “Justice for Trayvon” movement as shallow of a call to action as the 9/11 Truther movement’s call for “truth.”

It’s a rhetorical crusade driven by its own form of prejudice.

Who exactly is being served by that crusade? Certainly not the Martin family, and certainly not the African American community.

Author Bio:

John Daly couldn't have cared less about world events and politics until the horrific 9/11 terrorist attacks changed his perspective. Since then, he's been deeply engaged in the news of the day with a particular interest in how that news is presented. Realizing the importance of the media in a free, democratic society, John has long felt compelled to identify media injustices when he sees them. With a B.S. in Business Administration (Computer Information Systems), and a 16 year background in software and web development, John has found that his real passion is for writing. He is the author of the Sean Coleman Thriller series. His first novel, "From a Dead Sleep," is available at all major retailers. His second novel, "Blood Trade" is available for pre-order and will be released in Sept. 2015. John lives in Northern Colorado with his wife and two children.
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i’d really like to know why the only photos of Trayvon Martiin that show up on TV or print media seem to show him at about 12 years old? I’ve heard reports that he did not look like that at the time he an d GZ met. there are many reports of Martin being a 175lb well built person, with a number of tattoos, both facial and else where. just ask yourself, could the 12 year old version of Trayvon have inflicted so much damage on Zimmerman? according to sworn testimony at the trial, Martin was on top of Zimmerman, straddling him and using his hands and fists to great advantage. could the slightly built Martin, shown in all the photos done that?

Skip in VA

It’s sad but true that some folks can’t handle the truth. In fact, a local member of the NAACP wrote in a letter to the editor of the local fish wrapper, “I could very well describe our founding fathers as thugs. Not hoodie wearing thugs but wig wearing, make-up wearing thugs and thieves. After all, how many lives did they steal? How many black men died under their watch?” This was after attending a local demonstration for “Justice for Trayvon.” Pitiful, isn’t it?

Brian Fr Langley

The truth is out there? How about a real conspiracy theory. Comintern (communist International) has spent several decades doing their very best to subvert Western values and democratic institutions. (just a tiny modicum of research bears this out) Their goal? A socialist paradise where workers (rather than owners) control the means of production. (industry) The problem? They consider incentives greed, and private ownership evil. You know the old saw, “from each according to their ability, to each according to their need” The idea of personal private property ownership is so engrained in the Judeo-Christian ethic (“thou shall not steal”, which by definition implicitly recognises ownership of personal private property) that Marxist’s conclude, the aforementioned Judeo-Christian ethic, must be utterly demolished, and forever left in the dustbin of history. While the symptoms of Marxist thought abound, the disease seems to pass unrecognized.

Darren Perkins

George Zimmerman not being racist before all of this I wonder how he feels about black people now that he knows that most wish him to be imprisoned or dead. I wonder what the percentage is. If I were him I would sue both Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton for the character assasination he suffered at their hands.

West Virginia Matt

Well said, John. Thanks for another powerfully written article.

John Daly

Thanks Matt!

DanB_Tiffin

There was soooooooooo much evidence, exhibits, testimony, audio, transcripts, etc. available before, during, and after the trial, but still many do not care to look. The liberals are what is called “emotionally invested” in their year-long hate fest against (Democrat and Obama voter) George Zimmerman. They will never look and never acknowledge ANYTHING that contradicts their fanaticism.

Ken

John, you’re spot-on about how the American public has largely misinterpreted the verdict in the Trayvonn Martin case. It’s great to read a true evaluation of what happened. The reason most people felt outrage and injustice is simply because, from the very beginning, the impression painted in people’s minds, without knowing the facts, was that there was a race-motivated murder. And as you know, once that idea is planted in people’s minds, it’s hard to change. I’ll admit I was under the same impression about what happened, until I started catching up on it when the verdict was issued.

On a different note – it’s ironic to me, as a truth-seeker, that while 9/11 was a life-changing moment for you, and despite the scientific and logistical impossibilities in the official story (some of which have been acknowledged by members of the 9/11 Commission), you seem to disregard conspiracy theories on the whole. I’ll give you the sensationalist, fear-mongering Alex Jones, but you shouldn’t be so quick to lump Jesse Ventura into the same category. Check out his American Conspiracies book, and you’ll see what I mean. It’s well-sourced and relatively non-subjective.

John Daly

Hi Ken,

Oh, I’m sure there are some conspiracy theories out there that have merit, and I’m sure there was some government neglect or incompetency that was probably never aired completely out regarding 9/11, but the “inside job” nonsense, quite frankly, infuriates me.

Long before I ever started writing for this site, I spent many unproductive hours taking on the Truther crowd online and challenging their ridiculous claims. It eventually became apparent, as I stated in my column above, that these types of people just aren’t interested in facts. They start with a conclusion, then work backwards to dismiss all evidence that negates their conclusion.

Much of it is about people just wanting to feel smart and important by rejecting a powerful establishment’s account of an event.

To me, Ventura is no different than Alex Jones. His 9/11 thoughts are insane, and like many such people, he weasels his way out of having to back up his claims by routinely saying, “Hey, I’m just asking questions.”

And what mentally-stable person reacts to the charge Chris Kyle made against him by not simply denying that he was punched, but contemplating whether or not the government created some Jesse Ventura look-alike who was punched?

I have no use for Ventura, which is a bummer because I loved the guy when I was younger. Huge pro wrestling fan back then!

DonaldYoungsRevenge

Birthers have been lumped in with the conspiracy theories by many in the Conservative media and these guys have hard evidence obtained by law enforcement people with well over 100 years of experience collecting and evaluating evidence. They are so sure of the evidence that they have packaged it and made it court room ready and are presenting it to a number of VIPS in Washington DC. If these folks have their act together and what they have gathered is true wouldn’t you say agree that this will be the biggest scandal in the history of our country? Are not Ken and John Daly now very, very interested now that these “birthers” are actually sitting down with persons who can force an investigation?

Wheels55

Jackson and Sharpton make money by fanning the flames. The African American community needs to know that. Otherwise, those two would be on their soap boxes about black on black crime and murder. Shame on Obama for fanning these flames too.

I truly feel bad for T.B.’s family and friends. He caught the most lousy deal in life – dying too young.

DonaldYoungsRevenge

Zimmerman’s being pronounced NOT GUILITY was a miracle given how the deck was stacked against him. He had the full weight of the Obama administration wanting him lynched and a media that wanted him put away for life and a million dollar bounty placed on his head by the Black Panthers. Thank God for the 6 brave WOMEN who saw fit to weight the evidence without the pressure of the idiot black activists, the US Government and the libtard media.